Jackson backs Vick

Wednesday, October 31, 2012

By BOB GROTZ bgrotz@delcotimes.com

DeSean Jackson feels Michael Vick's pain. The way Jackson spoke Tuesday on NFL AM, the edgy NFL Network show, you get the feeling a change at quarterback would temporarily put Vick out of his misery. Jackson also covertly indicted the offensive line and the coaching staff on an Eagles team that's lost three straight games and is 3-4 with a road date Monday against the New Orleans Saints.

"Honestly, a lot of pressure is in his face," Jackson said of Vick. "A lot of defenses are showing different looks. With the quarterback that has the skill he has to make big plays with his legs, I think a lot of teams are honestly just trying to shoot at him and come at him any way possible and just give him less time. I think that's one of the things that's probably thrown a lot of timing off and a lot of big plays that we usually have going because of the amount of pressure he's seeing and the different looks.

"Defenses are just trying to come and blitz and show different looks."

There isn't a quarterback in the league who won't face some form of pressure. Dealing with it separates the elite from the stiffs.

If it's so obvious to a wide receiver such as Jackson, it must easy for the opposition to prepare for.

When the Saints hear about that, they're going to realize they have a chance to correct issues on a unit threatening to set the NFL all-time record for yards given up. Opponents are gashing the Saints to the tune of 474.7 yards per game.

Jackson isn't having a Pro Bowl season but is pulling the weight, considering how dysfunctional the offense is. He leads the Eagles with 34 receptions for 524 yards (15.4 average). Jackson also has a touchdown grab.

Vick is completing 59 percent of his attempts with nine TDs and a 78.8 passer rating but has been a part of 28 disruptive bad plays eight interceptions and 20 sacks.

Jackson was evasive when asked what he'd heard about the possibility of Vick being replaced by rookie quarterback Nick Foles. In various reports some sources say yes, others no. While a source told the Daily Times that Vick would likely remain the starter, Eagles coach Andy Reid has a history of demoting players by massaging injuries. Vick has a badly swollen right hand.

"I haven't really heard too much as far as in-house," Jackson said. "Everything I've heard is through the radio and TV. It's one of those things where we'll just stay in tune and whatever the coaches decide to do definitely we have to just move along with it. Hopefully we can get things turned around. It's just one of those things right now where it's tough. We're too good of a team to be on a three-game losing streak. So whatever it is we need to do to fix it and get things well, that's what we're here to do."

Asked if a switch to Foles would be good for the Eagles, Jackson shifted into neutral.

"I know Nick Foles," Jackson said. "I know what he's capable of doing. He's definitely a great quarterback. Very young, too, at the same time. It's just one of those things you never know until it happens. We'll go into work tomorrow and see if anything's changed or what's new."

Former Eagles quarterback Donovan McNabb also offered analysis on the NFL AM show. McNabb thinks the Eagles' issues are fixable. He doesn't think changing quarterbacks is the answer and thinks that the protection must improve.

"They're not giving him enough time to read downfield when he has guys open," McNabb said of Vick. "He's not having enough time. There's times he gets pressure in his face and he's able to use his legs but he's just kind of not being smart with the ball.

"It's easily changed … All you have to do is take one game at a time and we won't have to worry about this at the end."